Ariel Rose Hystad, 22, rural Velva, died Sunday, October 5, 2014 from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident near Minot.

Ariel was born April 27, 1992 at Bottineau, North Dakota. She was adopted at three months of age by Harry and Linda (Marshall) Hystad. She made her home on the Hystad family homestead north of Velva. She was educated at Velva Public School and graduated from Velva High School in 2010.

Ariel enlisted with the U. S. Army in August of 2010. She did her basic training in Lawton, OK and then received medical training as an animal care specialist in Ft. Hood, TX. She then served her country in South Korea until October of 2011 when she was honorably discharged.

Ariel returned to the Velva area, where she worked for Aaseth Farms, south of Velva and most recently for Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad in their conductor trainee program. She had been blessed with a baby girl, Cadence, born January 17, 2012.

Ariel was a member of Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva, where she was baptized in 1992 and confirmed in 2006. She was active at Velva High School in the FFA program, where she received the Equine Science Entrepreneurship Proficiency State Award in 2008. Ariel was a successful member of the speech team often participating in the humor events. She also participated on the Velva Golf Team, which had qualified for the State Girls Championships in 2009 and 2010. She participated in high school and local rodeos and had a special love for horses. Her horse, Buddy was her pride and joy.

Her loving family includes , parents, Harry and Linda Hystad, rural Velva; daughter, Cadence Hystad; brother, Matthew Hystad, Mandan; half-sisters, Tiffany Jennen, Fergus Falls, MN & Donna Poling, Bismarck, ND; maternal grandparents, Clarence & Carole Marshall, Minot; several nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Ariel was preceded in death by her sister, Mariah Hystad; paternal grandparents, Lorentz and Edna Hystad.

Funeral service : Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. in Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva.
Interment : North Prairie Lutheran Cemetery, Rural Simcoe, ND
Visitation : Friday, October 10, 2014 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are preferred to the Ariel Hystad Memorial Fund, established for her daughter Cadence at Prairie Federal Credit Union in Minot.